She wanted to visit him in the U.K., but she could not leave her suffering people behind.

[Humming Days]

Hi!
I would like to know about the ing verb placed before the noun and what part of speech it is called. Thanks for your help! Tony

1. She wanted to visit him in the U.K., but she could not leave her suffering people behind.
Is suffering which is a present participle a verb for this sentence?

2. She wanted to visit him in the U.K. but she could not leave her people, who were suffering, behind.
Suffering is a definitely a verb here.

3. The man praying is Gandhi.
Praying is definitely a verb here.

4. The praying man is Gandhi.
Is praying which is a present participle a verb for this sentence?

5. The mother left her baby crying behind.
Crying is definitely a verb here.

6. The mother left her crying baby behind.
Is crying which is a present participle a verb for this sentence?

 

[jutfrank]

1. It's a modifying adjective.
2. Right.
3. Right.
4. It's a modifying adjective.
5. That's wrong. If you omit behind, it's okay, and crying is a verb.
6. Here, crying is an adjective.